Focusing on optimal brain function is essential for long-term health and the maintenance of memory, problem-solving and other cognitive abilities. There are lots of great strategies that you can implement into your daily routine to ensure you maintain great brain function.
Here are some effective ways to support your brain and improve your cognitive function.
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Fuel Your Brain with Great Nutrition
Just like your body, your brain needs nutrients to thrive. Consuming a well-balanced diet that is high in B vitamins, vitamins D and E, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids, such as DHA, will fuel your brain with everything it needs to stay healthy and function optimally.
You can find B vitamins in meat and dairy, vitamin E in nuts, seeds, and avocados, zinc in meat and seafood, and omega-3 fatty acids in oily fish, vegetable oils, and avocados. Vitamin D is synthesised in the skin upon exposure to UVB rays from the sun.
Consider supplementing with good-quality supplements like Total Brain Boost to enhance your nutrient intake and optimise your brain health.
Manage Your Stress
Although you might not think it, there is a direct correlation between chronic stress and brain health. When you're constantly stressed, it can negatively impact your cognitive function and may even accelerate age-related cognitive decline.
Practising stress management techniques and reducing your workload appropriately can help maintain good cognitive function and healthy brain tissue. Effective stress management techniques may include deep breathing, meditation, mindfulness, and yoga.
Get Adequate Sleep
Getting enough sleep can be harder than it sounds, especially if you have a busy lifestyle, young children, or a job that requires you to work night shifts. However, it’s important to try and optimise your sleep as much as possible.
Create a bedroom environment that is conducive to sleep, such as one that is dark, quiet, and cool. Aim to go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at a similar time each morning if you can. Build a relaxing bedtime routine that you can perform in the evening to get yourself ready for a great night’s sleep.
Stay Physically Active
Regular exercise is essential for good brain health. Aim to complete 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise a week to maximise your physical and mental health.
Whether you engage in walking, jogging, dancing, swimming, or cycling, physical movement can increase blood flow to your brain tissue and promote better cognitive function. Exercise has also been shown to increase the amount of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the brain, a chemical that is known as ‘miracle grow’ for neurons.
Keep Learning
Learning shouldn’t stop when you leave school. Your brain thrives on discovering and processing new information, and continually challenging yourself and enhancing your knowledge and skills is the perfect way to keep your brain healthy.
Whether you read more books, educate yourself with online courses, or take it upon yourself to learn how to play an instrument, find different ways to keep your brain active and challenge your cognitive abilities.
